Correlative conjunctions¶
Common correlative conjunctions:
Correlative construction |
Category / construction type |
Example |
Basic function / force |
|---|---|---|---|
as … as |
comparative construction |
She is as capable as her colleague. |
equal degree |
as many/much … as |
comparative construction |
We need as much evidence as possible. |
equal quantity |
both … and |
coordination |
Both the manager and the developer agreed. |
addition |
either … or |
coordination |
Either we leave now or we miss the train. |
alternative |
hardly … when |
negative-inversion construction |
Hardly had he arrived when the meeting began. |
immediate succession |
if … then |
conditional construction |
If the evidence is reliable, then the conclusion follows. |
condition → consequence |
just as … so (too) |
comparative/correlative construction |
Just as demand increased, so too did prices. |
parallel correspondence |
neither … nor |
coordination |
Neither the manager nor the developer agreed. |
negative addition |
no sooner … than |
negative-inversion construction |
No sooner had he arrived than he left. |
immediate succession |
not only … but also |
coordination |
She is not only intelligent but also practical. |
emphatic addition |
rather … than |
comparative/preference construction |
I would rather stay than leave. |
preference |
scarcely … when |
negative-inversion construction |
Scarcely had he arrived when the meeting began. |
immediate succession |
so … that |
degree construction |
The problem was so difficult that we gave up. |
degree → consequence |
such … that |
degree construction |
It was such a difficult problem that we gave up. |
degree → consequence |
the less … the less |
comparative correlative |
The less you practise, the less confident you become. |
proportional relation |
the less … the more |
comparative correlative |
The less you worry, the more clearly you think. |
inverse proportional relation |
the more … the less |
comparative correlative |
The more you rush, the less accurately you work. |
inverse proportional relation |
the more … the more |
comparative correlative |
The more you practise, the more confident you become. |
proportional relation |
whether … or |
interrogative/content-clause construction |
Whether he agrees or refuses, we’ll proceed. |
alternatives |
whether … or not |
interrogative/content-clause construction |
Whether he agrees or not, we’ll proceed. |
alternatives / irrelevance |
Note
Conjunction as a broader term, not a CGEL category